10 free Thanksgiving kid-friendly crafts

If the extended family is coming over for dinner, playing a few rounds of bingo is a great way to keep children of all ages engaged. Print out these free bingo cards from Happiness is Homemade and make the game even more fun by using candy corn as place markers. 

This Thanksgiving spin on “pin the tail on the donkey” from Savvy Mama Lifestyle is a fun way to get kids away from the screen and bonding with their cousins. 

Thanksgiving is a great time to sit by the fireplace after dinner and let kids use their imaginations to tell stories. This paper bag puppet template from Big Family Blessings adds to the fun. The template is free and the turkey hand puppet is made from supplies you probably already have at home.

With all the excitement of visitors on Thanksgiving day, it can be nice to have a calming activity so kids don’t burn out before dinner is on the table. This free Thanksgiving activity book from Doodle Art Alley contains 11 pages of fun, from word searches, writing prompts, and mazes to simple coloring pages that are great for younger children.

Board games are a fun way to teach skills like reading, counting, and critical thinking. This Thanksgiving printable from Made With Happy is a simple game: Help the Turkey Get to the Farm. All you need are the board, some place markers, and die or dice. 

Celebrate the things you’re thankful for this year by coloring in this Thankful Tree from Creatively Beth. Each family member can write something they’re grateful for on a leaf and tape it to the tree throughout the day for a cute keepsake.

Matching games help your child flex their memory skills while being a fun screen-free way to pass the time before dinner. This Thanksgiving matching game printable from Mama’s Learning Corner uses text and pictures so your child can practice reading skills too.

Older children will love hunting for Thanksgiving-themed words and phrases like “Sweet Potatoes” and “Gratitude” in this intermediate word search puzzle from Happiness is Homemade.

Paper dolls offer two Thanksgiving day activities in one: coloring and imaginative play. This pilgrim paper doll printable from Mostly Paper Dolls includes common clothing items and their names so your child can learn more about how the pilgrims lived and dressed.

Superstar Worksheets has several free printable Thanksgiving mazes to help children of every age practice fine motor skills. The mazes range from toddler appropriate to more complicated.